Prepared to purchase a brand new sleeping bag? There’s a lot to think about, however largely it comes all the way down to down or artificial and mummy vs rectangular.
As with all different piece of substances, it is best to perform some research earlier than selecting the perfect sleeping bag.
On the subject of down vs artificial, there’s a lot to think about. That can assist you make an knowledgeable resolution we’ve put collectively this fast comparability:
Learn on to study extra about every choice!
Down Sleeping Baggage
So what’s a down sleeping bag anyway?
Properly, let’s begin by saying what down isn’t. Lots of people imagine {that a} down sleeping bag is crammed with hen feathers, however that’s only a false impression.
What’s down fill?
Down is definitely the gentle layer of plumage that’s sitting closest to the pores and skin of the hen, beneath the outside feathers, primarily within the chest space.
In contrast to feather, down has no quills, and it’s extraordinarily high-quality and fluffy.
What makes down such a well-liked selection for the sleeping bag fill is its means to insulate by trapping the air inside.
So long as it’s dry, down can present insulation in even the harshest climate situations (and given you’ve gotten the appropriate temperature ranking, in fact).
Is down fill light-weight?
We don’t use the phrase “featherweight” to explain one thing extraordinarily gentle for no purpose.
A down sleeping bag is a superb choice for backpackers and thru-hikers, because it doesn’t gradual you down.
Typically, a down sleeping bag weighs between one and two kilos.
The historical past of down insulation
Down has been used as an insulator for hundreds of years, with some written sources relationship again to the 1600s.
Again within the day, it was collected by numerous wildfowl species, in addition to gulls and comparable seabirds. At present, both duck or goose down is used.
Between the 2, the goose is a a lot bigger hen, and the proportions apply within the case of its down clusters as properly.
For that purpose, goose down is softer and hotter.
After all, the food regimen additionally has an impact on the hen’s down. Geese will eat something from lettuce or corn to worms and bugs.
And because of some fatty issues geese eat, their down may also include a excessive fats quantity, which may trigger a slight odor.
Geese, alternatively, often feed on grass, so the scent of their down is much less noticeable.
Down is a meals byproduct
What meaning is that it’s collected from birds used for meals.
And since duck is extra generally used for that goal in comparison with goose, duck down is a extra economical choice.
Now, the precise high quality distinction between the 2 forms of down is just not that outstanding.
In truth, most finances and mid-range fashions will characteristic duck down.
Goose down, alternatively, can usually be present in premium merchandise.
Benefits of Down Sleeping Baggage
So what makes down so nice? These are all the advantages of any such insulation:
Larger Heat-to-Weight Ratio
The heat-to-weight ratio is the measurement used to guage the effectiveness of insulation in relation to climate situations.
And that’s the place down shines the perfect.
Down is extraordinarily light-weight and options high-quality, branched filaments that lure air in between.
That manner, it manages to insulate properly with out weighing a lot.
Compressible
The fantastic thing about down lies in the truth that it’s extremely compressible.
Its insulating means depends on the air trapped inside, however you possibly can take that air out when its time for packing.
In truth, a down sleeping bag pack down fairly compact, which makes it nice for backpacking.
Now, though down has nice compressibility, you don’t wish to hold it stuffed for too lengthy.
Once you’re not on the path, your down sleeping bag must be packed into a way more comfy bag that enables the loft to increase.
Very Sturdy
Down is extraordinarily sturdy. If taken correct care of, a down sleeping bag is one thing you possibly can cross all the way down to your youngsters.
With that being mentioned, understand that a down bag can leak over time.
In case you see a feather peaking out via the fabric, simply attempt pushing it again in as a substitute of pulling it out.
Environmental Friendliness
As we already talked about, down is a byproduct of the meals business. If not collected, it’ll simply find yourself in a landfill.
However that’s not the one purpose why down is a sustainable product.
In truth, in comparison with polyester, down has as much as 97% decrease impression on the ecosystem and local weather change.
That’s as a result of it’s made with pure fibers that break down utterly and doesn’t pollute the planet.
Disadvantages of Down Sleeping Baggage
Nevertheless it’s not all roses with down. There are a number of issues about utilizing any such insulating materials, together with:
Allergic reactions
Though it’s actually uncommon, an individual could be allergic to down or feather.
If that’s the case with you, the very last thing you want is to sleep in a sleeping bag crammed with the allergen.
One factor to remember although.
Regardless that you would possibly expertise some type of allergic response to a down bag, that doesn’t essentially imply you’re allergic to feathers.
Usually, your allergy is brought on by mites discovered within the product.
One of the simplest ways to make sure whether or not you’re allergic to down or not is to do a pores and skin check in a lab.
Unethical
Simply because it’s a byproduct, that doesn’t imply that down is moral materials.
For those who oppose the consumption of animal merchandise, that’s not a adequate purpose to make use of down both.
The principle difficulty lies within the moral issues associated to sourcing.
Sadly, there have been an unlimited variety of scandals in recent times associated to animal therapy within the meals business.
Reside-plucking, which mainly includes ripping the feathers off of reside birds, is the primary concern in the case of down.
Then, there’s the problem of force-feeding, which leads to enlarged livers – the primary ingredient within the dish known as Foie gras.
Fortunately, there are methods down could be ethically sourced lately.
Moral down has to cross the best animal welfare requirements and solely come from birds protected against live-plucking and force-feeding practices.
Poor Efficiency in Additional Moist Situations
Down offers nice insulation – however solely when dry. As quickly because it will get moist, it loses all its means to maintain you heat.
In case you camp in an space with a damp local weather, having a down sleeping bag won’t be the best choice for you.
Odor
Over time, your down sleeping bag can retain odor when you don’t frequently sustain with upkeep.
This often occurs as a result of physique oils seep into the fabric, inflicting it to clump up from extra dampness.
Other than creating odor, seeped physique oils may even trigger the insulating means of a down sleeping dangerous to say no.
Last Ideas On Down Sleeping Baggage
A down sleeping bag is extraordinarily light-weight and compressible, which makes it a high choice for backpackers and thru-hikers.
If taken correct care of, a down sleeping bag can final you a really very long time. We’re speaking many years of use, which makes a down sleeping bag a worthy funding.
Nonetheless, not every little thing is roses. A down sleeping bag loses its insulating means when moist, which makes it an unsuitable choice for tenting in moist situations.
Moreover, there are some actual issues concerning the moral harvesting of down.
Artificial Sleeping Baggage
Artificial sleeping luggage are typically manufactured from brief strands of polyester fibers, densely packed to forestall shedding warmth.
Thick steady filament makes an artificial sleeping bag barely stiffer than down, however this additionally means they don’t create chilly spots.
An artificial sleeping bag affords a very good stability of weight, insulation and sturdiness.
Additionally they are available in all value ranges, so there’s a product for everybody’s pockets.
Benefits of Artificial Sleeping Baggage
So what makes artificial sleeping luggage so nice? Listed here are the benefits of getting any such sleeping bag:
Cheaper
In comparison with down, artificial sleeping luggage don’t have to interrupt your financial institution.
What makes them way more inexpensive than down is the truth that their insulation is produced in a manufacturing unit, not harvested.
Good Efficiency in Moist Situations
What makes artificial sleeping luggage such a well-liked choice is their means to retain insulating high quality even when moist.
Now clearly, that doesn’t imply {that a} sleeping bag soaked in water will hold you heat and dry. However a slight drizzle received’t be an excessive amount of of an issue.
Extra Moral
We’ve already talked about moral points with harvesting down. Properly, that’s not the case with artificial, because it’s created in a manufacturing unit.
No animals have been engaged within the product-making course of, from begin to end.
Artificial Baggage Additionally Dry A lot Faster than Down Ones
As soon as it stops raining, your artificial sleeping bag will dry inside a number of hours at most.
A down different, alternatively, can keep moist for your entire day. In case you’re tenting in a moist local weather, artificial is, palms down, the best choice.
Hypoallergenic
Because it’s man-made, artificial fiber is designed by mixing supplies that may’t trigger an allergic response.
This makes it an appropriate choice for everybody, no matter their well being situation.
Disadvantages of Artificial Sleeping Baggage
You guessed it – an artificial sleeping bag is just not with out faults.
Heavier and Bulkier
An artificial sleeping bag depends on protecting the fibers compact to lure warmth inside. However extra fiber additionally means extra weight.
When evaluating a down and an artificial sleeping bag with the identical heat ratio, the latter will probably be a lot bulkier and heavier.
Much less Compressible
Artificial sleeping luggage aren’t best for backpacking and thru-hiking as they don’t pack very compactly.
Dense fibers don’t permit it to compress the identical manner a down sleeping bag does. This makes them considerably troublesome to place again right into a sack.
Much less Sturdy than Down
Sadly, artificial fibers merely aren’t constructed to final. And in case you don’t keep it frequently, their life will get even shorter.
Typically, you possibly can count on to see the indicators of breaking down inside 5 to seven years.
In comparison with a down sleeping bag, that’s about 4 occasions shorter.
Last Ideas On Artificial Sleeping Baggage
Artificial sleeping luggage are an incredible choice when you’re first time tenting.
They’re fairly inexpensive, which means you received’t need to spend an excessive amount of cash on one thing you don’t know when you’ll find yourself liking anyway.
This kind of sleeping bag is nice when you’re tenting in moist climate, because it retains insulation even when moist.
Moreover, it dries down comparatively quick, so it will likely be prepared for the night time.
Lastly, an artificial bag is nice while you’re automotive tenting and never desirous about slicing down weight.
Down/Artificial Hybrid Blends
As we’ve seen, neither down nor artificial sleeping bag is ideal. Properly, why not get a little bit of each as a substitute?
Some manufacturers use a combination of each artificial and all the way down to create a sleeping bag that’s light-weight but inexpensive.
After all, it’s unimaginable to solely hold the nice and ditch the dangerous.
However by mixing these two forms of insulation collectively can restrict the disadvantages by a big margin.
Typically, a hybrid sleeping bag is stuffed totally with a mix of each of those supplies.
Different occasions, it’s insulated with down across the head space, whereas the underside is totally artificial.
Professionals:
- Weighs lower than artificial
- Comparatively compressible
- Does present some water-resistance
- Prices lower than down
Cons:
- A bit bulkier than a down sleeping bag
- Not as waterproof as artificial
- Prices greater than an artificial sleeping bag
Last Ideas on Hybrid Blends
If a hybrid sleeping bag might retain solely the benefits of every of those insulating supplies whereas negating their disadvantages, it will be the proper product.
The truth, in fact, is just not that black and white. A hybrid sleeping bag affords a very good center floor for any informal camper.
So long as you’re not touring lengthy distances on foot and in moist climate, you need to be high-quality with any such bag.
Down Fill and Insulation Defined
So, how does one understand how heat a specific down sleeping bag is?
In case you haven’t seen, every product options fill energy. This quantity is usually used to point the standard of down.
What’s Down Fill Energy?
Fill energy exhibits the quantity of area an oz. of down can fill, indicated in cubic inches.
To show fill energy, we use numbers starting from 300 to above 900. For prime-quality down merchandise, don’t look below 800.
The mathematics behind fill energy is straightforward.
A sleeping bag with a fill energy of 500, as an illustration, doesn’t increase as a lot to lure air between its filaments as a mannequin with a fill energy of 800 does.
Nonetheless, simply because a sleeping bag has the next fill ranking, that doesn’t at all times need to imply it’s hotter.
That’s as a result of there’s one other quantity now we have to have in mind – the amount of down.
So as an illustration, which one do you suppose it’s hotter? 500 grams of 450 fill down, or 250 grams of 700? In case you answered the primary choice, you bought it proper.
With that being mentioned, the extra fill a sleeping bag has, the much less compressible it turns into. It is smart, as there’s much less air inside to take away when packing.
So when you’re selecting between completely different down sleeping luggage, take each of those numbers into consideration.
However typically, a sleeping bag with decrease fill energy will probably be heavier and fewer compressible than the one with the next quantity.
That is one thing to have in mind when you plan on touring lengthy distances.
Can You Examine Fill Energy to Artificial Fill?
Whereas down insulation is measured in fill energy, we use grams per sq. meter to seek advice from artificial fill.
However these two numbers can’t be in contrast as a result of they don’t present the identical factor.
As we already established, down fill energy exhibits the amount of insulation. However with artificial, we measure its thickness.
As a result of artificial fibers are densely packed collectively, the thicker the insulation, the higher it retains heat.
Evaluating two artificial sleeping luggage is quite easy. The upper the quantity, the hotter it’s.
Different Elements to Think about
There are a number of different issues it is best to take note of when selecting a sleeping bag.
Dimension/Form of the Bag
No matter what kind of insulation you go for, the identical factor stands – much less empty area contained in the bag means it’s hotter.
A mummy type sleeping bag sits snugly round your physique, so it’s nice for chilly climate.
With an oblong sleeping bag, alternatively, there’s quite a lot of room inside that’s crammed with air.
And with a lot room to wiggle round, there’s a lot room to fill with heat.
Learn: Mummy Vs Rectangular Sleeping Bag
Temperature Score
It doesn’t matter whether or not your sleeping bag is crammed with down or artificial insulation if it doesn’t have the appropriate temperature ranking.
At all times be sure to’re utilizing a sleeping bag with a ranking that’s barely under the one you’d be experiencing in your tenting journey.
You shouldn’t go too low, or else you’ll be too sizzling to sleep in that sleeping bag. Waking up in a puddle of sweat is rarely comfy.
Zips
When selecting a sleeping bag, take note of the type of zippers it has. Steel would possibly seem like a logical choice, because it’s extraordinarily sturdy.
However two steel zippers can truly overwhelm your sleeping bag by rather a lot. And in case you’re backpacking, each ounce issues.
As a substitute, go along with plastic or nylon zippers. They’re gentle but additionally sturdy, and in case they break, they’re simply replaceable.
Weight
After all, all of those traits above add as much as the general weight of your sleeping bag.
A mummy type sleeping bag has much less materials, which means it weighs much less.
Typically, sleeping luggage with decrease temperature scores will probably be heavier. That is particularly obvious with artificial insulation.
And eventually, the fabric selection of zippers additionally weighs down a sleeping bag.
Down vs. Artificial Comparability Desk – Which One to Select
Nonetheless uncertain which one is healthier for you?
Let’s make the choice simpler by evaluating them in numerous situations.
Frequent Tenting or Backpacking
In case you usually spend your free outing within the wild, it’s price investing in sturdy tenting gear. In that case, a down sleeping bag is an ideal choice for you.
You’ll additionally be capable to deliver that sleeping bag onto an occasional backpacking journey, because it’s so gentle and simply suits into your backpack.
Occasional Tenting
In case you go tenting no various occasions a yr, then there’s no purpose to spend tons of cash on one thing that may sit in your storage for many of the yr.
An artificial sleeping bag is a quite versatile choice, as you need to use it in each moist and dry climate.
Chilly and Winter Climate
In case you’re out in excessive climate, staying heat is your high precedence. That’s why investing within the high-quality down sleeping bag must be your high precedence.
These fashions often additionally characteristic a waterproof shell to forestall getting soaked from a little bit of snow.
Wet or Humid Climate
Tenting in wet climate is one other story. If you’re anticipating quite a lot of rain or humidity, then artificial is the best way to go.
Down turns into ineffective when moist, and takes a very long time to dry, so it’s not best for that kind of state of affairs.
Learn: How To Select A Sleeping Bag: Your Information to Cozy Out of doors Slumber
FAQs
What’s the finest sleeping bag insulation?
There’s no single finest insulation, as they each have their execs and cons. If we’re speaking about packability, then down wins by a big margin.
However an artificial sleeping bag is a extra common choice.
Which lasts longer down or artificial?
With correct and common upkeep, a down sleeping bag can final you for many years.
Artificial insulation, alternatively, breaks down over time. Usually, their lifespan is from 5 to seven years.
Why is down costly?
Down is harvested from reside animals, so it’s way more troublesome to acquire in comparison with artificial, which is produced in a manufacturing unit.
Do down sleeping luggage scent?
Typically, properly maintained down sleeping bag ought to have an odor.
Nonetheless, when you don’t take correct care of it, down can rot, making a chemical scent. Plus, this will launch sure chemical substances that may be dangerous to your well being.
Easy methods to wash sleeping luggage (artificial and down)?
First issues first, at all times verify the label for cleansing directions. However typically, you’re protected to comply with these steps.
- At all times use a front-loading washer. A top-loading machine often options an agitator and this piece can harm your sleeping bag if it will get wrapped round it.
- In case you don’t personal a entrance loading machine, hand wash it.
- With down sleeping luggage, it’s at all times finest to make use of a detergent specifically designated for laundry down. Common laundry detergent may cause all the way down to clump up, which is able to have an effect on its insulating means.
- At all times unzip earlier than washing the sleeping bag. It will forestall zippers from getting snagged.
- At all times wash a sleeping bag with heat water on a delicate cycle.
- Rinse it twice to get any detergent residue out of the fibers.
Your bag ought to really feel densely clumped after that. If it seems to be spongy, repeat the rinse cycle.
How do you get the musty scent out of a sleeping bag?
In case you don’t dry your sleeping bag utterly earlier than packing it up, it would develop mildew. And as you in all probability know, mildew doesn’t scent very good.
Fortunately, there’s a approach to do away with the scent at house:
- What you have to do first is unzip the sleeping bag utterly to let the air inside.
- Deodorize the bag and depart it within the solar for a number of hours.
This could kill any mildew spores contained in the insulation.
In case of moldy stains, a combination of lemon juice and salt can simply repair that.
- Add about ¼ cup of every ingredient and blend till it turns right into a paste. Unfold it onto the mildew and depart it in solar for a number of hours.
- Take a dry material and brush the paste off.
- Then, dip a toothbrush into a number of drops of detergent and scrub the stain away.
- Then, take a moist material and clear any residue.
- Moisten two cotton balls with one to 2 drops of vanilla extract every.
- Place one cotton ball contained in the foot of the sleeping bag and the opposite one inside the middle space.
Go away the cotton balls contained in the sleeping bag for at least three hours to deodorize any remaining mildew scent.
To Sum Issues Up
There you’ve gotten it, every little thing there’s to learn about down and artificial sleeping luggage.
Each of them have their execs and cons, so the best choice will probably be one thing that matches your scenario finest.
A down sleeping bag is gentle and compressible, so it’s nice for tenting journeys the place packability issues.
It’s comparatively costly, however with correct care, you would possibly by no means have to purchase one other one.
An artificial sleeping bag is an general good choice for informal journeys. It really works properly in each moist and dry climate and it’s comparatively inexpensive.
